PEOPLE should be proud of East Lancashire’s heritage. The area has a rich and varied history which should be celebrated.

That’s why the Rossendale shoe trail which runs from Haslingden to Rawtenstall is so welcome.

Artist Julie Mills has created a pathway featuring large ceramic boots to mark major landmarks while small shoes are used as markers.

In doing so she is recognising Rossendale’s history in both the shoe and slipper industry and the area’s involvement in brickmaking.

Other parts of East Lancashire’s heritage are celebrated in some of our towns. The cotton industry is marked in Helmshore Mills Textile Museum in Helmshore and Queen Street Mill Textile Museum in Burnley.

But Blackburn’s Lewis Textile Museum has closed with its collection now housed in the town’s other museum.

In Burnley the collection of former mills which make up Weavers’ Triangle is falling into disrepair while efforts are made to secure the cash to renovate it.

But this does not mean that the history of both towns is not worth remembering.

We should celebrate the area for being one of the country’s main centres of manufacturing.

Perhaps this needs to be marked in innovative and different ways like the new shoe trail.